Bringing Back Handmade Barbie Clothes
Remember playing with dolls once you were a young child? If you were at all like me, you possessed a Barbie doll or two in your toy box. Barbie has been available since 1959 by the lady named Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel). Ruth named the doll after her own daughter, Barbara. In 1961, Ruth created Barbie's boyfriend, the Ken doll, named after her son. Now, almost half century later, Barbie remains to be within the hearts and toy boxes of kids (and in many cases adults) everywhere.
Our children today convey more toys than previously. Electronic toys, gaming systems, iPods, and computers are merely the start. A great deal has changed in the arena of toys because we were children just one thing that hasn't changed could be the simple love of the Barbie doll. Barbie today has new friends, fresh clothes, a new house, and much more new pets than she did 40 years ago. However, young girls today still enjoy dressing and primping Barbie to behave out her fantasy life during playtime.
My grandmother was a seamstress. She would sew beautiful Barbie Dresses for my Barbie doll collection. I had created a suitcase packed with her handmade creations and also the kids in the neighborhood tummy flatness, although over so we could dress the dolls. I loved choosing the fabrics and selecting dress styles. Although I did not realize it back then, the clothing she generated for my dolls were better quality than anything I really could buy within a store.
As being a teenager I became enthusiastic about sewing. Because my grandmother had passed, I became left to teach myself the best way to sew. I spent several hours looking at my Kenmore sewing machine turning out beautiful creations. It came so naturally in my opinion. Over time I created clothing personally and my family, window dressings, and ornamental home decor items. I later spent about 5 years doing ready-to-wear clothing alterations to the general public. Then, about Ten years ago, a dear friend gave me the maximum birthday present... a Barbie doll. Without a doubt, you are never too old to get a Barbie doll!
While experiencing some old boxes during our last move, I found a box with lots of the Barbie dresses my grandmother had made. The finding inspired me! I would make new clothing with today's fabrics for my Barbie doll. What could be better than handmade doll clothes? These are nearly impossible to find in this day and age because those do not have or take the time to sew like they utilized to. While i began creating beautiful dresses, everyone who saw them desired to buy them so I added them to my online craft store. I couldn't believe the response. We have received numerous emails from people who said beautiful stories of the mothers, aunts, and grandmothers who handmade their doll clothes after they were children. Then i knew that bringing back handmade doll clothes for today's families could be the start of new traditions and is needed create beautiful memories and gifts that may be passed down through generations. Inside a world where everything is so commercialized, returning to the basics with Barbie has reminding me of an wonderful time in my childhood. Now, in order to provide that gift to others is often a true joy.
